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Levi Michael

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Mar, 2023

Stories (31)

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12 Followers

7 Following

31 Stories

499 karma pts

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The Old Switcheroo

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #295

Jim and Kip sat in the dappled shade of the great elm on the eastern hill, their hats on their knees, eating their lunch, watching the procession from a distance. The mourners, along with the chaplain, were already sweating in their suits, moping their brows and fanning themselves in the late morning sun. Jim and Kip recognized the cues and started packing up their lunch boxes. Kip set his by the stump he was sitting on, flipped his hat from his knee to his head and snapped his suspenders onto his shoulders with a sigh. “Welp, looks like it’...

4 likes

Klar Alptraum

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #291

One can never know whether a dream is genuinely recurring or not, as the dream itself may smuggle in with it, the sensation of recurrence. — Al P. Traum, Psy.D.Mike Ester went to see Doctor Traum on a pleasantly overcast Wednesday afternoon. He pulled his puttering hatchback into an otherwise empty row of parking spots, stopped, and stared at the office building, his hands still gripping the wheel at ten and two while the car idled. He shifted the car into park and rested his forehead on the steering wheel, feeling the rumble of t...

5 likes

Tony Saves Us All

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #285

If someone were to ask you, “What happened on Y2K?” You’d probably say, “Nothing.” But that’s only because you don’t remember. You don’t remember that the first time it came around it destroyed humanity. You don’t remember the love between a boy and his friend. You don’t remember, because for you it never happened. If it hadn’t been for Herman I would have been happy to sit back and watch Y2K burn the world to the ground. My name’s Tony. I’m a Speak & Spell. I was one of the first to roll out with the new line in ‘78. I...

3 likes

The Tell-Tale Fart

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #283

They’re looking at me like they can tell. I know they can’t. The only three that know are me, the fella in that deep hole, and my shovel. Still, Aunt Ida has paid me the not-so-subtle side eye all evening, and uncles Al and Sam have been exchanging cryptic comments and nods, and looking away at odd times. Christmas dinner is always weird, but this year it feels weirder. Mom and Dad have been cool, though. It was probably just me. “How’s clown college?” My cousin Alex chewed away at something green as he raised an eyebrow in half-intere...

6 likes

White Elephant

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #281

white elephant/,(h)wīd ‘elaf(ə)nt/ nounA possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of. They both stared down at the box, the snow scrolling uncannily to the ground as if in a vacuum, falling on the shallow drifts that glowed iridescently under a cloudless sky and full moon beyond the rails of the porch. The box, a nearly perfect cube about the size of a big basketball, was neatly wrapped in red and gold and white paper, an ornate Damascus pattern. The lid independen...

7 likes

The Hackneyed Haunt

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #275

The others in my appetite, and I, swayed and shuffled as we stood among the trees, docile since the food had run out. The last of the light disappeared over the horizon. The forest fell into a gloom. I doddered through an opening and came to stand beside a looming elm. Standing next to it felt right. Some of the others were standing by trees as well, a natural instinct. The snap of a twig caught my attention. I turned slowly and staggered toward the shadows. I clawed at the bushes and found nothing. I listened. Nothing. Eventually I ca...

3 likes

Brunswick

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #274

Herman’s face was obscured amid the shadows cast by the firelight. He sat deep in his overstuffed wingback chair, a blanket over his lap. Andrew settled into the well-worn chair, opposite Herman. He dug into his briefcase and produced a tape recorder and a pen and a pad. He set the recorder on the small table. “Yeah, I guess I will take that drink.” He glanced up at the butler. “Rye. Rocks.” “Thank you, Benson,” Herman dismissed his butler with the wave of his two-fingered hand. Benson bowed. He wordlessly poured and served Andrew befo...

5 likes

Arthur's Appendix

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #274

Arthur Harris was a loving husband, an attentive father, and a hard, honest worker. In fact, it had been almost twelve years since he had missed a day of work. And, so, it was with an antsy frustration that he lay in his hospital bed, trying as hard as he could to wait patiently for the doctor. After what felt like years, but was closer to just over an hour, the doctor finally paid him a visit. He strolled into Arthur’s room, pinching the temple of his bifocals as he perused his medical chart. He came to stand next to the quietly beeping mon...

7 likes

The Second Greatest Trick

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #273

Uncle Al held up the silver dollar, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled,” covered it with his other hand, “Was convincing the world he doesn’t exist,” and made it disappear. He held out an empty palm. Nick leaned in. “Woah.” Uncle Al’s palm was gone in a flash, replaced by a cautionary finger. “The second greatest trick?” Nick stared up at him. Uncle Al reached down and tugged the boy’s ear. With the ring of the metal edge, he held the coin up to the boy’s face. “Woah,” Nick jumped back. Uncle Al held the dollar out to him....

6 likes

Mom?

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #272

Susan rushed into the bathroom, closed the door behind her and rested her back against it. She took a deep breath and combed her hair out of her face. Everything's fine, Susan. She nodded, agreeing with herself and took another deep breath. She pushed off the door and straightened her cardigan. She pulled her shoulders back and marched the two steps to the sink. She reached for the medicine cabinet and clutched the edge of the mirror. Before she could open it, she caught a glimpse of herself. It was only day five and she looked like he...

7 likes

Burt and Jeff and Not Darci

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #272

Jeff and Burt are two sick-in-the-head individuals, who met, saw the psycho in each other and became fast friends. As their friendship grew, they opened up to each other, candidly discussing their darker sides. Over the years they came to the conclusion that both of them wanted to kidnap torture and murder someone, and on a sunny Saturday in September, they decided it was time. They were almost giddy as they chatted, taking their time as they dressed the kill room. They draped the walls and floors with plastic sheeting and cleaned and sharpe...

5 likes

Gazpacho Vendetti

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #270

Gazpacho Vendetti⇣jump to recipe ❍ 0 comments Everything you need to know, to create the ultimate, most meaningfulmeal you will ever serve — in three hours or more! In the unforgiving summer heat of Spain, a cool respite can be found in this refreshing dish, full of rich, sweet flavor you can savor long after. As with any dish, the traditions and techniques of the old world will always lead to superior cuisine. Taking short-cuts can get the job done, and even often lead to succulent outcomes. But to ensure the most satisfy...

7 likes

Catcat: Regular Cat

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #263

I’m just a young, gray tabby, so I don’t know a lot about humans, but it sure seems like my neighbor, Batman, has a lot of enemies. I’ve watched them come and go over the year, some more interesting than others. A clown, a bird, a couple gaudy business guys, and a handful of tightly dressed ladies. I have some favorites, but that’s neither here nor there. What really struck me was how much effort these fellas and ladies were putting into taking Batman out. Yet with ...

7 likes

The Forty Million Dollar Kid

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #250

A caressing spring breeze carried the sweet aroma of the short-lived wisteria bloom through the garden patio in soft wafts, mingling with the scents of lavender and thyme and rose petal. Hummingbirds zipped in and out, flashing their red or blue or green bellies. The buzz of their tiny wings passing in loping drones over the distant laughter of children playing in the park.I sat in the cool dappled shade of the great oak, taking in deep breaths of the perfect spring day. The cubes in my iced tea tinkled against the glass like frozen raindrop...

6 likes

The Residue Burn

Levi Michael

Submitted to Contest #250

On the surface, Grazer’s Knoll seems like a typical, picturesque small town. A little slice of antique Americana on the north end of the Sacramento Valley. The men are strong and stoic. Almost all work down at the lumber mill. The women are lovingly stern, a powerful matriarch. It’s no secret that the sewing circles of the Knoll run the show. Kenny was a good kid, the youngest of four. At ten he could already hold his own with some of the tougher chores required around the farm. He’d been in his fair share of dustups with some of the o...

6 likes